This ceremony, which appeared during the French Revolution, is becoming increasingly popular. This strong act but without legal value is intended to bring a child into the republican community and to make him adhere to its values. Here, everything is symbolic under the bust of Marianne
It is still a long way from dethroning the traditional religious ceremony, but civil baptism or republican sponsorship is coming in force, driven by a breeze that took its breath under the French Revolution.
Established in 1794, fallen into disuse for more than a century, very fashionable during the Belle Époque, popular in the 21st centurye century in the north of France, this ceremony has once again become a fashionable custom.
From now on, it is fashionable to bring a child into the local community and to make him adhere in a symbolic way to the triptych “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”, to the notions of understanding, solidarity, peace, respect, honor … All humanist values can be detailed there at the altar of the fatherland, the town hall. Without a pre-established ceremony, the organization of this celebration is very flexible. Fashionable.
An act not listed in the civil status
In 2019, there were more than 400 civil baptisms in Paris. More than 250 in Lyon. In Corsica too, there is a resurgence of celebrations.
It is difficult to know exactly the number of lay sponsorships since these acts are not listed in the civil status registers of the municipalities. They are simply entered on unofficial registers. Mayors even have the right to refuse these celebrations.
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Only certainty, for a dozen years now, there has been a growing craze. Bastia and Ajaccio of course, but also Porticcio, Pietrosella, Porto-Vecchio, to the interior as Cozzano, Azilone-Ampaza, Guargualé, Cargiaca …
Many mayors have now accompanied young children on the path to citizenship and those who have not yet done so are impatient to celebrate this ceremony which is not regulated by any text.
Double celebration
Formerly established as an anticlerical measure, civil baptism is today rather appreciated as a complement or an alternative to religious baptism.
First bell, parents who want to complete the sacraments of the Church. Their child is carried on the baptismal font by the priest, and in the process, enthroned “Godson of the Republic” by the mayor. “This is an opportunity to give even more solemnity to this ceremony. It is also a way of strengthening the links between parents, godparents and the child ”, assures Amélie, mother of a little Andria, in Ajaccio.
Catholic rite and civil ceremony, this is what the parents of Ange-Louis in Guargualé chose. A double celebration on the same day, a parish priest, a mayor and four godfathers. The little angel was impressed by the decorum.
In vogue with elected officials
The second motivation often arises in unbelieving parents.
They want to organize a ceremony by solemnly asking relatives to become godfather and godmother, without going through the church. “My parents wanted a traditional baptism with the holy water tank, we didn’t want it. In the end, we chose this alternative, a secular welcome to life ceremony ”, justifies Clémence, mother of Jade.
The latest trend is these elected officials who choose to place their offspring or their relatives under the protection of republican institutions. The examples are legion. This was the case in 2007, in Bastia.
Deputy Mayor Francis Riolacci presided over the civil ceremony for his granddaughter Julie. More recently, in Ajaccio, Laurent Marcangeli chose the double ceremony, secular and religious, for his sons. Dad and celebrating, a touching ceremonial under Marianne’s bust.
Symbolic act
Sometimes the mayor is also the godfather or godmother of the baptized. The formulas are available as desired under the pageantry. Although devoid of any legal and juridical value, civil baptism is nonetheless a highly symbolic act. It is the expression of a moral commitment by the godfathers and godmothers to support their godchild in the different stages of his life, to listen to him, to advise him.
The moral responsibility of the godparents is to engage in a bond of complicity, to watch over this child so that he becomes a citizen devoted to the public good. The commitment they make to stand in for the parents, in the event of failure or death, is emblematic but solemn. Here, the word is golden. The breadcrumb trail therefore runs throughout life to mark out the moral line, good values and noble notions. With or without baptistery.
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